It was announced during the course of the evening of Captain John McNabb Day in June 2002 that a substantial six figure sum had been left to the Academy by one of its Former Pupils, Mr Brian Maguire. In accordance with Mr Maguire's family's wishes, the money will be used to improve the sporting facilities in Dollar Academy.

The following Press Release was issued in March 2004. Since then, the planning application has been successful, and the Academy is hopeful that work can start on the new building before the end of 2004.

The east elevation shows the tower which will house drama, 6th form studio and function room. To the right of that are the art studios and then the changing rooms. The existing sports hall is shown dashed.		The north elevation shows the existing sports hall (dashed) on the left. The art studios are to the right of this. The new sports hall and the groundsmen's accommodation are on the right of the drawing.
The south elevation shows the tower at the top. The drawing underneath shows the tractor shed (with the demolished squash courts shown dashed) on the left. To the right of that is the proposed sports hall elevation and section through the arts department and changing rooms.		The west elevation shows the groundsmen's accommodation on the left of the drawing. To the right is the sports hall and changing rooms and the art studios. The drama, 6th Form studio and function room are on the right of the drawing.

Enhancing a Site of National Importance

Centrally positioned within Dollar, William Playfair's Academy Building stands proudly in an Arcadian setting against the backdrop of the Ochil Hills. Creating new working spaces within this sensitive environment is a challenge for any architect. Such extra space is now needed because of the expansion of curricular demands in physical education, in drama, and in art and design. A consultation meeting held in the Academy's library on Thursday 11th March gave an opportunity for local residents to inspect drawings, photographs and an architectural model of the site and to discuss the proposals.

Iain Duguid, Development Quality Team Leader for Clackmannanshire Council, expressed the reassurance he felt at "the enthusiasm shown by the Academy to revisit the original plans" before a second planning application was submitted. He stressed the logic of the new building, placed as it is, at the heart of existing sports facilities.

Architect Hans Grabowski of Alca Design, Perth spoke with some passion of the opportunities presented to his firm "to improve a rather disappointing part of a beautiful setting for the Playfair Building". The new alignment allowed for "the demolition of unsightly structures" and "an improved setting for the fine pavilion". Using Scottish vernacular materials within a woodland landscape, the Maguire building, he felt, "would be a respectful neighbour both to the Playfair Building and to neighbours on the Back Road".

Rector John Robertson highlighted the central role of the Academy in curricular development, citing as an example the role of Mr Angus Maclean, Head of Art, as Principal Assessor of Advanced Higher Art in Scotland. Successive School Development Plans had stated the need for improved facilities in art, in physical education and in drama, "three subjects which link powerfully together in creativity, in performance and in movement". The new building had been designed to reinforce the linkage amongst these three specialist subjects, and to ensure continued use by the community of the Academy's facilities.